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California State Caucus Forming

Vol. 2, No. 4--May 11, 2005

Democratic Activists Form California Democratic Progressive Caucus

It's official! Unofficially official that is, because we are still waiting for approval from the "powers that be" in the State Democratic Party to approve our bylaws, but the California Democratic Progressive Caucus held its first organizing meeting at the State Convention in Los Angeles on April 15, and it was a smash hit.

More than 400 people (20% of the full California delegation) crammed into a too-small meeting room and signed up as charter members of our new caucus. Speaker after speaker praised the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of our new Caucus members.

Our new caucus made its presence felt immediately. Teaming up with the numerous Assembly District Committees, Clubs, and County Committees that drafted and offered resolutions attacking the disastrous war in Iraq, our officers and members lobbied the Resolutions Committee for passage and, when that resolution reached the floor of the convention, we were instrumental in preventing it from being watered down.

Our mission statement is threefold:

1. To take on issues of importance to progressive Democrats, including offering support to other caucuses for their issues, and eliciting their support for our issues.
2. Supporting and promoting progressive legislation and those who introduce it in the Legislature.
3. Engaging in party-building activities as we offer progressives a home in the Democratic Party from which many currently feel estranged.

The Caucus values are those of the Democratic base: to have access to universal, quality, affordable health care; free and fair elections; an impartial media; a clean and safe environment for the future generations; a return to a sane and reasonable multinational foreign policy; policies such as increasing the minimum wage to begin to achieve social justice; an end to an unfair and discriminatory death penalty; and support for social programs to benefit all Americans.

We are dedicated to promoting diversity, a woman's right to choose, and fair trade agreements that don't hurt working people. Many of our principles are already in the State Democratic Platform. We are here to see they get the attention and the legislative approval they deserve.

Our progressive Congresswoman from the East Bay, Barbara Lee, several State legislators, and our State Treasurer, currently a candidate for Governor, all support our caucus. We believe we represent core Democratic values and the "Democratic wing of the Democratic Party."

The Caucus is open to all registered Democrats who share our progressive values in the State of California. Please contact Mayme Hubert at maymehubert@att.net to join the Caucus or for more information.

Submitted by: Dotty LeMieux

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